Central Park

By: Guillaume Musso, Sam Taylor - translator

Narrated by: Stephanie Willis

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

From the number-one international best-selling author: a woman wakes up on a Central Park bench with no memory of how she got there in this “unpredictable and moving psychological thriller that keeps you holding your breath” (Métro)

Alice, a fierce and respected Parisian cop, wakes up on a Central Park bench with no memory of the night before, handcuffed to a complete stranger - a musician named Gabriel. Disoriented, dazed, and with someone else’s blood on her shirt, Alice works furiously to reconnect the dots. She remembers clubbing with her friends the night before on the Champs-Élysées. Gabriel claims he was playing a gig in Dublin. Was she drugged? Kidnapped? Why is the gun in her jacket pocket missing a bullet? And whose blood is on her clothes?

Over the next 24 hours, Alice and Gabriel race across New York in search of answers, stumbling upon a startling set of clues that point to a terrible adversary from the past. Alice must finally confront her memories of hunting the serial killer who took everything from her - a man she thought was dead, until now.

From France's number-one best-selling author, Central Park is a taut and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers riveted until its final shocking twist.

©2014, 2021 Guillaume Musso; Sam Taylor - translation (P)2021 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

“Musso spoons out details and misdirection with brio.... The initial conceit provoked plenty of interest…[the] opener is a doozy." (Sarah Weinman, New York Times Book Review)

“Sure to please those who like to use reading as their cardio.” (CrimeReads)

Just okay

The storyline took too many twists and turns. I felt disappointed with how it ended and wish the author could have done more with the basis for the story. And the narrators French accent was absolutely terrible! I almost couldn’t finish the book, it was that bad!

My First Guillaume Musso book!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. At first the performance was not my favorite aspect of this story, but once I got into the book, I ended up really appreciating the performance - perhaps even more than the story. Stephanie Willis doesn't just narrate this, she acts it out in way that really brings it all to life.

The story takes some crazy twists and turns and does a good job of keeping you wondering what was going to happen next.

This was my first Guillaume Musso book and I'm sure it will not be my last.

Other reviewers said they don't like the ending and I get that, but at the end of the day, I am very glad to have read this book.

Intriguing story, but poory delivered.

The false French accent of the narrator drove me up the wall... It's quite enough to use it while delivering dialogs, but for all the memories and reminisce, it is just unnecessary and simply annoying.

The twists were wasted in a sub par plot

It was hard to pay attention enough to follow the story because it was often disjointed and obnoxious

Save your money/credit

Terrible, cliched writing and a plot that barely makes sense in the end. SPOILERISH TALK (not that I think you should bother):
The resolution involves manipulating a woman to a terrifying degree, which is justified with "but I fell in love with you (you were asleep at the time, but I could just tell)." And she just... goes with it. The book also spends an entire chapter introducing a young cop character who is never seen or even mentioned again.

A terrible book that only exists because of its premise, and the resolution is in no way satisfying.

Most ridiculous book I have read this year.

If I had gotten this from the library I would have brought it back after the third chapter. But, since I bought it, I read it.
The plot was convoluted and the dialogue laughable.